PBS HAWAII PRESENTS Even Though the Whole World Is Burning

Air date: Thurs., Aug. 6, 9:00 pm

Here is a clip from Even Though the Whole World Is Burning: The Wildness

Poet Laureate W.S. Merwin has won almost every major poetry prize that exists, including two Pulitzers. His legacy is based not only upon his writings, however, but also the singular form of environmental activism and land stewardship he embodies. Now in his 87th year, Merwin has dedicated over three decades to preserving and regenerating native plants and palms on a 19-acre site on the north shore of Maui. The preserve, called the Merwin Conservancy, with over 800 species, holds the most comprehensive private collection of palms in the world. These tangible actions for the environment go hand-in-hand with his poetry, offering important insights for an era marked by environmental degradation, human disconnect with natural processes and rapid climate change. The film is an intimate portrait of a vibrant, humorous and challenging man who is often called a “national treasure.”